Step-ladder.



WITNESS D. B. HAMPTON; STEP L ADQER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 19H5.

Patented Man 5 191.8

2 SHEETS-SHEET i.

IN VE NTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

D. B. HAMPTON.

STEP LADDER. APPLICATION FILED SILPLzz. IeIa.

Patemd Mar. 5, 1918;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTORNE Y.

normanna. naMPToN, or sT. HELENA, camminare ernia-LADDER.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known'that I, DURWARD B. HAMP- TON, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of St.' Helena, county of Napa, State of California, have made a new and. useful` invention-to Wit: Improvements in Step- Ladders; and I do hereby declare the'lfollowing to be a full, clearpconcise, and exact description'of the same.

The invention relates particularly to the proper construction ,and arrangement of thev parts with the object of making a ladder, that is strong and rigid and .that maybe produced at the minimum cost. -v

In this specification land :the annexed drawings, the invention isillustrated'in the form considered to beV the best, but'it 1s to be understood that they invention is not limited to such form, because' it maybe embodied in other forms, and it 1s also to bey understood that in and bythe claims follow ing the description, it is desired'to cover the invention in Whatever form it may be embodied.

ln the accompanying two sheets of drawings.:

Figure 1 is a perspective view from 1n front or a ladder construction 1n accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in perspective illustrating one of the side platform braces.

Fig. 3 is a similarview of one of the step braces. Y

. Fig, 4 is a fragmentary enlarged detail of thelower step and foot construct1on.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail showing the engagement of the ends of the steps with the side bars, showing a modified form of tie bolt.

A fruit pickers step ladder is illustrated in the drawings at Fig. 1, that being type best illustrating the advantages-o this invention. I do not wish to be understood, however, as confining this invention tothat type, as any one or all of the novel details of construction therein disclosed may be incorporated in ladders of other types without departing from the spirit of this 1nvention. f y

In detail the construction illustrated vin supporting the interposed 'steps 3, and the pivotal brace made uiQoithe'side bars 4-4.

Specification of Letterslatent. application mea sefember a2, 191e. serial no. 121,613.

l the side bars 1-1 side bars and the the Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

The brace bars 4 4 `are drawn together and joined at the bottom by the bolt 5 with the intervening block 6, forming a tripod .of the ladder, which type is more easily set up on uneven ground and equilibrium maintained. For greater stability it is advisable to spread at the foot, tapering them gradually to the platform 2.

Attention is directed to Fig. 2, illustrating the metal brackets interposed between the' ends of theside bars 1 and platfor1n2. The opposite edges of the platform are beveled to snugly fit within the V-shaped channel 8 of the brackets 7 which are pro- .vided with the integral bent-over lugs 9 fand 10 overhanging the ends of the angle 8 to prevent ydisplacement of the platform. The flange 1l turned up at the edge ofthe brackets overlies the front edge of the side .i

bars l, the inside ofthe upper ends of which lie against the plane l2 in an open socket' formed by the flanges 11 and the beads 13,

struck up from the* body of the brackets 7 the top of thelbars 1 are 'beveled to .fit snugly under the angle 8 of the brackets, thus su porting the load on the latforrn 2 direct y on the ends of the side ars l. Theupper ends of the bars 1 are provided with the overlying plates 14 secured thereto by the olts l5 passing through the holes 16 in the lates 7, securely'clamping the ends o the ars therebetween. The upper ends of the bars thus fixed to the brackets 7, are drawn snugly into assembly with the platform 2 by the tie bolt 17 passing through the holes 18, the tension of this tie-rod 1'? pulling the platform 2 snugly together, the nuts on theopposite 'ends of the tie rod providing `for the take-up of any slack due to shrinkage. The side brackets 7 are provided with the holes 19 to receive the cross rod 20, engaging the pivot plates 21 xed to the upper ends of the bars 1 4 by the cross bolts 22-22 passing therethrough and lying against the edges of the cross strut 23, .interposed between the4 bars 4 -l and engaging the end plates 24:, having upturned anges 25 engaging the edges of the strutforming a rigid brace for the'upper end oi the ivotal support. In long ladders itisl advisable tointroduce Aan interx'nediate su port consisting of a bolt passa ing through t e tubular sleeve 26 interposed between the bars 4-4.

In long, heavy ladders it is 'advisable to 110 reinforce vthe fooi; end of the bers l-l on. the inside with the reinforcing strips il? joined by the cross' strut 223 he.; ing its op posite ends inortised inte the strips 2'( have ing its upper edge lying against the underside of the lowest step. 'The strip 2T is iXefl to the bars 1-l by the bolt or rivet :28' pass ing therethrough at the bottoni and et the top by the tie-rod 29 passing through the side bers 1.-1 land provided with running nuts 'to pull the side bers snugly against the end of the .strut 28, forming u very rigid construction at the base of the ladder. The lower may be further strengthened by an additional tiered 30 extenclingfbetiveen the bars 1 1, or in very Wide lstltler's by the shorter step ties at 3l, Fig. 5 jeinetl to the lowest step by rivets se at 32.

The intervening steps 3 e interposecl beu tween the side bars l convenient treed height, euch resting,` .upon s, er se rofl provided with a running nut te puil the side bars snugly against the end or" the steps.

The encls or each step yere set in sockets formed by the integral lianges 3%-35 struck up from the plete 3G, and overhenging the (upper anal lower sides of the endso the steps end held in proper horizontal alineinent bythe holes 37 through which the cross rods 33 pass. The. steps ere provided v with a longitudinal groove in the lower side to receive' 'the Cross rocls which prevents iside bars l.

lateral displacement of the steps. The braces 36 are provided with the upset 'flanges 38-38 overhenging the opposite edges of the side bers l, to prevent tipping of the steps 5 end provitiing e snug :inn rigidv engageinent of the ends of the steps with the These 'braces ure preferably formed of 'an integral blank of sheet metal and may be formed with a minimum ofY Waste as illustrated `in Fig. 3.

Particular attention is direet'efl to the fact that none of the upright supporting inembers ere transversely notched or scored in economy in the manner o assembling the platform with its supportin'o members, it presents no overhanging obstructions likely to injure or become entangled. in the branches or limbs of :Fruit trees in. placing or removing the ladder when used for fruit picking. The absence of overhangznf the plat-form 2 beyondL the side, bers l is e tie sirable safety element in preventing the user stepping beyond theI center of gravity.

The lacider is designed to simplify the miil work anti assembly operations, and the metal Work is designed to give the maximum strength with the minimum weight of insterial.

Having thus leseribeci this invention9 seid brackets, breene .said brackets. tlherefore retain what lv eisiin zint.. secure by Letters luci. including side bars, brackets foi-ined au b Channels und fixed to the upper ends seid side bers on the inside thereof with the lower Walls of seid channels restingon the top of said side bars e platform with its ends resting in sei Channels snel Ineens drawing said brackets against the ends of seid platform, und e brace for the lergltler.

2.1i step lzntler :including side bers, bruelrets :torn with ribs for engaging the et Aes et seid side bers, enelL with elim iels, securine ssifl brackets seitl side bers with said ehene seid. side bers7` ends resting* in .n ffl breexets end. :i

e. piatte u suini Channels side bars, nies anti ribs for seid side bars and -meer securing seid brackets jep side bers with seid chan:l nels resting en the top of seid side bars, e pl tierna' supportet by its ends 'restin in seicl ebunnels rswing said brackets against 'Y seiil ,platform s bruce he said, brackets.

""Li. A braelrets the lippe b im@ with its Q wit ebenneieg' ineens drey'ing seiel breu ets against the ends of esiti platform, bruce piveted `to l ,ed to seitl side bars, and steps snppnrteti by sai'l brackets. 105

5. A step ladder inelnfiing sitle bersg brackets fixed to seiei sifle bars; a platform interposed between seid brackets; ineens for drawing seid bre lets iig/einst the enfle O seid platfnrin; e. bruce piv-oteel between 6. stelet iler including side bars having beveled topk enfle; brackets having lshaped channels enti ieee?, te the ends of said vsieie en e inside, beveled ends of said eng g untler ssieehannels; it platform heving beveiefl ends engaging seid, Chennels, and ineens iirsivine' seid brackets against seid platform.

7. A step latin ineliuiing side bers beving bevelen 'top ends; brackets havin if shaped channels and xecl to the en s of said side bers on `the inside, the beveled ends of said bars engaging under said cliennels; platform having; beveled enfle engaging channels; end a4 brace pivotecl between bre mts.

l the i .s seif side bers. platform 13e with its ends resting within said channels, means drawing said brackets against the ends of said platform,va brace pivoted to said brackets, brackets secured to said side bars, and steps supported by Asaid brackets, and reinforcing means for the lower ends Vsaid side bars and the lowermost step of the ladder.

9. A step ladder inciudin side bars, brackets formed With charme s and fixed to theupper ends of said side bars, a platform with its ends resting Within said channels, means drawing said brackets against' the'ends of said platform, abrace pivoted to said brackets, brackets secured to said 15 side bars, stepssupported by said brackets reinforcing means or the lower ends of sai sideA bars and. the lowermost step of the iadder, and a transverse reinforcing bar at the upper part of said brace.

in testimonywhereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this' 11th day of September, 1916.

DURWARD B. HAMPTON.

In presence of;-

V Z. D. BLAKE,

W. J. Bum 

